Distributing apparatus



0d. 12, 1948. v H. LOWE 2,451,104

DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 10', 1945 INVENTOR Horace Lowe ATTORNEY FIG. 5, BY @F Patented Oct. 12, 1948 DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Horace Lowe, Eastport, Maine, assignor to Riviera Packing Company, Eastport, Maine, a partnership composedof Victor N. Cory and Arnold Vogl Application November 10, 1945, Serial No. 627,916

This invention relates to a distributing apparatus-more particularly to a device for distributing units, such as cans or containers from one conveyor production line to a plurality o subsequent conveyor lines.

One of the applications of this invention is in the canning industry, where open cans are filled or otherwise treated while traveling along one or more conveyor belts, and then alternately directed along diiferent paths towards closing machines.

It is within the contemplation of this invention to provide an efiicient apparatus of the above-mentioned category, and capableof automatically distributing each of several lines/of conveyor-carried units alternately to different paths, without disturbing or in any way interfering with the travel of the conveyor belts.

And it is another object of this invention to enable a relatively simple mechanical device to eifect the aforesaid distribution and the alternate changes in the path of travel of lines of units continuously and without interruption.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the apparatus of my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side of the elevation thereof; and

Figure 3 is a section of Figure 1 taken substantially along line 3-3.

In theparticular embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, there are two lines of cans l9 and traveling in the direction of the arrow on the conveyor system l2, being preferably a single belt extending along the width of the apparatus. The invention is not, how ever, limited to a single belt, nor to two production lines, inasmuch as a plurality of parallel belts and one or many production lines may be employed, if desired, within the scope of the invention. Flanking each line of cans along their respective paths are the stationary side rails l3 and M, and I5 and I 6, whereby the cans are maintained along their operative paths. Attached by hinges l? to said stationary rails are the gate guides l8, I9, 29 and 2|, respectively. Each of these guides is movable, by means to be hereinafter described, between two limiting positions shown by dot-dash lines, whereby the discharge positions of the cans are changed so that they may be directed to different paths, as will hereinafter appear.

4. Claims. (01. 198-30) The conveyor belt l2 continues past the terminals of gate guides l8, i9, 26 and 2|, its width being thereafterin region generally designated A, divided into four paths 22, 23, 24 and 25 formed by the stationary longitudinal side rails 25, 21', 28, 29 and 30. The said gate guides I8, i9, 26 and 2| are So actuated that the line of cans iii will be directed from path Illa alternately to paths 22 and 23, and the line of cans ii will be directed from path Ha, alternately t paths 2 3 .and 25.

During this action the terminals of gate guides l8, i9, 28 and 2! are alternately brought into substantial longitudinal alignment with the side rails in region A forming the corresponding longitudinal paths.

The preferred form of mechanism for operatively actuating the gate guides l8, i9, 20 and 2! comprises a gate spacer 3| for each pair of guides that form a path, connected by bolt 32 to arm 33. Each of said arms is in slidable engagement with bracket 34 which is secured to transverse slide bar 35. The latter is slidably supported by cross member 36 suitably affixed to uprights 31. The said slide bar 35 extends beyond the guide channels 38 supported by uprights 31, the legs 39 of the channels being in slidable engagement with the said slide bar 35. The terminal portion All of the slide bar is connected to the follower member 4! consisting, in the form illustrated, of a post 42 and roller 43 disposed within the channelled groove 44 of. the cam wheel 45. The said groove 44 has an inner portion 46 thereof disposed closer to the conveyor than the outer portion 41, the difference in the respective distances to the conveyor of said two portions representing the operative throw of the cam, or the operative movement of the slide bar 35 and connected parts. In the preferred form of my invention, one-half of the operative path of groove 44 consists of portion 45, and one-half of portion 41, whereby for each revolution of the cam wheel 45 there will be one inward and one outward movement of slide bar 35 resulting in one alternation of the production lines per revolution of the cam.

In the form illustrated, each arm 33 is held secured to the bolt 32 by nut 48, and is pivotally connected to the gate guides, such as it and I9, by the fasteners 49. Each of said arms 33 is also slidably supported by transversely extending rest bar 513. The arrangement is such that upon an operative movement of the slide bar 35, the arms 33 will not only actuate the gate guides l8, l9, 2!] and 2|, but will also slidably move longitur 3 dinally of the apparatus because of the arcuate path of bolt 32.

In the operation of this apparatus, a simple rotary movement of the cam wheel 45, connected by shaft 5! to a source of motive power not shown, will thus operatively oscillate the gate guides l8, [9,220 andll and therebyzalternately divert-each of the lines of cans J .and liliiindifferent paths. And this is accomplished without interfering with or interrupting the continuity of movement of conveyor belt 12.

It is understood that the embodiment above described and shown in-;the;,drawings.:;is merely :v illustrative of my invention," arid: thatmumerous 5 atively connected to said cam wheel and said changes and modifications may bemade therein, within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit,of-:this=irrvention.

I claim:

1. In a distributing apparatus having-"a pair of rearwardly hinged gate guides the forward r 'portions of, which are movablerbetween: two predetermined 'limiting positions, the combination of ,a transversely disposed spacer: pivotally. connected to the said forward portions of the gate 7 guides, a longitudinally-disposed actuatingzarm pivotally connected to said spacer, a rest support underlying the arm for slidably supporting the I arm during its operative movements, atransversely disposedslide barconnected to'said arm for actuating it laterally,guiding-meansinslidiable engagement with said slide bar for holding it"along its operative path, arotary cam'wheel, and a reciprocating cam follower member operatively connected to saidcam wheel and .said

slide bar' for reciprocatingly .actuating'the ibar, whereby the gate guides will beoperatively oscillated between said limiting positions.

2. In a distributing apparatushaving alpair of rearwardly hinged gate =guides I the forward portions of which are movable between two predetermined limiting positions, the combination itions foraoperativelycimparting =a predetermined of a transversely disposed spacer pivotally connected to the said forward. portions of the gate guides, a longitudinally disposed actuating. arm, perforated portions insaid spacer and. armg-a bolt extending through said perforated portions and pivotally connecting-the "said-arm, to the spacer, a transversely disposed -slide' bar connected to saidarm for actuating it-latrally, supporting means for said slide bar,a restsup'- port underlying the arm for slidably-supporting the arm during its operative movements guiding means supported by said supporting meansand in slidable engagement withsaid slidebar for holding it along itsoperative path, a rotary cam wheel, and a reciprocating cam follower member operatively connected to saidcam wheelandsaid slide bar for recipro-catingly actuating the bar, whereby the gate guides will be operatively oscillated between said limiting positions.

3. In a distributing apparatus having a pair 5 of pivotally mounted guide members movable between two predetermined limiting positions, the tcombinati'oneof a spacen member ipilvotally connectedto'iboth of sazidfiguideimembers whereby the members are operatively maintained in pare l0 allel relation, a, longitudinally disposed arm'piv- VotalIyrcOnnected to the spacer member, a transversly disposed slide bar connected to said arm e for:actuatingeit laterally, a rotary cam wheel, =and"a;;reciprocating cam follower member operslide bar for reciprocatingly actuating the bar, l swhereby the-guide members will be operatively oscillated between said limiting positions, said oam Wheel containing thereon a channelled grooved cam path, ,the follower member being t operatively ,disposed: within'zrsaidt groove.

.4. Infa: distributing: apparatus whavingea rpair rof pivotally mounted guideimembersimo'yable be- =.twee1r=two. predeterminedilimitirrg'zpositionsp the combination of a spacerimember cpivotallyrcom the'meinbers are iopera'tively maintainediin parallel i relation, a longitudinally vdisposedtarm piva otally. ;coimected1 to' the :spacertmemben: trans verselysdisposerlislide: bariconnectedto isaiduarm for actuating it'and thecassociatedicmembers, al whereby theuguideimembersiiwi ll be operatively oscillated' betweenf-said limiting positiongiucam 1 :means containing 'airotatablyimounteckcamewheel I containingthereon'achannelledagroovercamipath,

; theiaxis o-tunotatiort being substantially-'parallel lto theislideibar, thesaidicam path-.zbeingperiph- ,eral'l y :tdisposed on the ucam; member;*: and la followermember operatively udisposed Pwithin said 40 groove landecon-nected to :said slide"bar,': said'- path 1- containing: precletermined inner: and outer -por .movement to the slide-bar. r W

' a f ,HORACE'IJOWE.

REFERENCES; GITED file of thispatent: g

l UNITED .-SEA?IE,S PATENTS Number Name "*"Date 738,749 Alired Sept-'15,

1,667,714 Bacheller May 192s 1,719,897 Mayo July 9,1929 1,755,660

-Morrow ":Apr.' 22; 1930 1,894,547 Tucker 'Jan; 17,"..1933 "2,219,827 i'Kiniba'll 'et .al. "1940 .-nected 1t0izbOth vsof-zzsaidt :guid'e members whereby c The followingreferenceslare ofnire'cordfin the 

